Pommer is supposed to be one of the more consistent forwards, but he's looked like **** these last few games. Completely invisible aside from a few turnovers. Not even his patented shot-to-the-crest. He just doesn't look engaged into the game like he did at the beginning of the season.

Vanek has been a streaky guy for most of his career, I expect to have a few down games. But I expect Pominville to be Mr. Consistent, and he's just not been there these last few games.

********. He's still taking pucks away like usual to generate scoring chances. Difference is, he's not finishing and not making as good of passes.

Quote:

Originally Posted by joshjull

Some folks seem to think when things aren't going well it must be due to laziness.

Vanek isn't getting the bounces right now. When he was tearing it up he was getting them.

I literally said the exact same thing as you two in the next sentence; why cherry pick one observation and attempt to refute it with the other?

I'm not saying he's lazy. I'm saying he doesn't look to me to be hustling like he was before. Not as fast or controlling of the play. But the opportunities are still coming, which is why I'm not worried. Only so long can you prop up a team's offense single-handedly.

Missed the first (thanks to GDT for keeping me informed), caught some of 2nd and all of 3rd. Pretty darn impressed with the 3rd period effort. Maybe the trade rumor mill surfaced between periods...

Good:
Miller apparently kept them in it thru periods 1 and 2
Myers - best period of the season IMO - a dominant force in the 3rd
Ennis, speed, stickhandling and passing with a purpose
Stafford - breaks out with goal, much better intensity
Hodgson - this guy looks more solid every time out... making plays that are building a quiet confidence in his game... working his butt off in the 3rd.....future Capt. material?

Too many others to mention.......

Bad:
Sekera injury - cracked ribs?

Ugly:
1st and 2nd periods - totally
Julian

Disappointing:
Fans on TV seen playing with their cell phones, heads down intent on the screens ile the game passes them by... Why bother buying tickets and taking up a seat?

I literally said the exact same thing as you two in the next sentence; why cherry pick one observation and attempt to refute it with the other?

I'm not saying he's lazy. I'm saying he doesn't look to me to be hustling like he was before. Not as fast or controlling of the play. But the opportunities are still coming, which is why I'm not worried. Only so long can you prop up a team's offense single-handedly.

You can't assert he's ust not hustling and winning battles like he used to then complain when others say you called him lazy.

You can't assert he's ust not hustling and winning battles like he used to then complain when others say you called him lazy.

I can when it's taken out of context. It's not a simple matter of "him playing at the exact same level, just now his chances aren't falling." His overall game has lagged recently compared to his transcendent performance in the first few weeks of the season, which is understandable. He could be worn out and/or battling injuries. But his game is noticeably at a lower level, and because you infer laziness from my description of his game falling recently does not mean I implied anything to that effect.

Especially considering the remaining two-thirds of that post was very pro-Vanek. He's not a problem and certainly not the problem of this team right now. He's just cooled down.

I literally said the exact same thing as you two in the next sentence; why cherry pick one observation and attempt to refute it with the other?

No you didn't. You said he isn't hustling and battling like he used to and I disagreed. If you had said the "exact same thing" as me, that would mean you were contradicting yourself.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MGIII

I'm not saying he's lazy. I'm saying he doesn't look to me to be hustling like he was before. Not as fast or controlling of the play. But the opportunities are still coming, which is why I'm not worried. Only so long can you prop up a team's offense single-handedly.

He's getting the chances and still controlling play sometimes, but he's hesitant with the puck now.